Benfica to open academy in Yerevan at FFA Technical Centre

The Football Federation of Armenia and Football Investment Group have officially announced the launch of the large-scale Benfica Academy Armenia project. Starting from the 2027/28 season, the official academy of Portuguese club Sport Lisboa e Benfica will begin operating in Yerevan.

The project will be implemented on the territory of the FFA Technical Centre/Football Academy. For this purpose, the Football Federation of Armenia has provided part of the academy’s infrastructure to Football Investment Group LLC for long-term free use in order to carry out the Benfica Academy Armenia project.

The FFA emphasized that the decision is connected to the scale of the project and its strategic importance for the development of Armenian football. Benfica’s academy is considered one of the leading football development centres in the world, while the new project in Armenia is expected to become one of the club’s major international directions.

Benfica Academy Armenia will become only the third such development centre in SL Benfica’s international academy network. In terms of investment volume, infrastructure level and the planned number of students, the project will be comparable to the Portuguese club’s largest academy initiatives.

Before the academy begins operating in Yerevan, a major modernization of the FFA Technical Centre is planned. The first stage of the project includes the reconstruction of six football pitches, the construction of two new artificial-turf fields, modernization of the stadium, a complete replacement of the lighting system, installation of lighting on all training pitches, renovation of the gym and dressing rooms, as well as the creation of new comfortable areas for young footballers and their parents.

The next stage includes the construction of a new multifunctional complex. It will feature residential, educational, wellness and sports areas, conference halls and other infrastructure required to provide a high-quality football environment.

The academy is expected to begin with around 1,000 young players aged 4 to 17. Training will be conducted under Benfica’s technical guidance and according to the Portuguese club’s methodology. The project also provides for continuous coach education, the introduction of a unified player development system and the transfer of advanced international experience to Armenian specialists.

FFA President Armen Melikbekyan noted that the cooperation with Benfica should become an important step for the development of youth football in Armenia.

“We are confident that such strategic investments will make a significant contribution to increasing the competitiveness of Armenian football, create new opportunities for the development of young players and strengthen Armenia’s position on the regional football map.

The Benfica Academy Armenia project is another important step towards creating an international football environment in Armenia and reflects the FFA’s consistent policy of attracting the experience and knowledge of leading global football organizations for the development of Armenian football.

I am confident that this cooperation will bring significant benefits to Armenian football and will contribute to Armenia gradually becoming one of the leading centres of football education and talent development in the region,” Melikbekyan said.

It should be noted that an academy of Italian club Juventus is also expected to open in Yerevan this autumn.